"There is nothing holy about the Champions League anthem," said the Belgium defender.

"We have played many games in Europe where there has been racial abuse - we have had to put up with it."

City supporters are understood to have regularly booed the Champions League anthem over the past year.

It is not the first time Manchester City supporters have voiced their anger against Uefa.

Last year a City fan group led a protest against European football's governing body after 650 CSKA Moscow supporters gained access to the Khimki Arena for their Champions League game, despite the Russian club being ordered to play it behind closed doors.

The case against Manchester City will be considered at a meeting of Uefa's disciplinary body on 19 November and a charge could follow.